A single donor gave £9m to a UK political party last year – and under current rules, there is no limit on how much any individual or organisation can give. That figure, the biggest single donation to a UK party by a living person, has reignited a long‑running debate about money in politics. Now a group of Labour MPs is trying to change the law, proposing a cap on political donations for the first time.
At the moment, there are no restrictions on the amount of money UK‑based donors can give to political parties or politicians. This means that a handful of very wealthy individuals can donate millions, as seen in the first three months of 2026 when UK parties reported accepting £20.7m in donations, with Reform UK alone receiving £9.2m – much of it from two wealthy backers, Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo.
“Why Labour MPs want to cap political donations at £1m and what it means for UK politics.”
Labour MP Alex Sobel has put forward an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill that would cap individual donations at £1m. The cap would not apply to collective organisations such as trade unions, which are traditionally Labour’s biggest donors. Sobel says the government could reduce the cap further after a transitional period ending in 2029.
The proposal has attracted significant support among Labour MPs, who believe that Andy Burnham, the man widely expected to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister later this month, will back some form of cap. In an email exchange seen by the BBC, Burnham said “there should be a cap on political donations” and suggested a limit “in the region of £500k”, though he added that the exact level would need to be subject to a wider review of political funding.
The timing is tight. The Representation of the People Bill is due to finish its remaining stages in the House of Commons before Burnham is expected to take over as prime minister on 20 July. The Starmer government could pull the bill and wait for the next prime minister, or if Burnham takes office, he could try to introduce a cap once the bill has progressed to the House of Lords.
For UK readers, the lack of a donation cap raises questions about influence and fairness. The Electoral Reform Society, a campaign group, says it “means that a handful of very wealthy individuals can continue to assert undue influence over our politics”. A cap would aim to reduce the perception that parties are swayed by big money. If implemented, it would be a significant change to how political funding works in Britain, affecting donors, parties, and ultimately how elections are fought.
Q: What is the current limit on political donations in the UK? There is no limit on the amount UK‑based donors can give to political parties or politicians. Donations from abroad are restricted, but within the UK, individuals and organisations can give any sum.
Q: What is Alex Sobel’s proposed cap? Sobel’s amendment to the Representation of the People Bill would cap individual donations at £1m. It does not apply to trade unions or other collective organisations. The cap could be reduced after a transitional period ending in 2029.
Q: Does Andy Burnham support a cap on donations? Yes. In an email, Burnham said “there should be a cap on political donations” and suggested a figure “in the region of £500k”, though he said the level should be subject to a wider review.
What happens next depends on the parliamentary timetable. The Representation of the People Bill is moving through the Commons before Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July. The Starmer government could withdraw the bill, or Burnham could use his new role to push a cap through when the bill reaches the Lords. Either way, the debate over capping political donations is far from over.